Philadelphia's responses to global warming and market cooling, high fuel and food prices, health unsurance, mortgages, student debt and war will decide whether our future here becomes vastly better or vastly worse. Whether we're the Next Great City or Next Great Medieval Village.

"Everything that is normal around us was once a wild idea."

by Brian Howard

by Bruce Schimmel

What You Say

Northeastern, a restrained piece of neoclassical civic architecture with the look of a small city's high school, was erected while many doctors and nurses were in Europe treating the victims of World War I. Rumors have been circulating for a month that Temple will close the hospital or cut the number of beds from 231 to 40 or 50, or the O.R. and/or the maternity ward will be shuttered.

by Rob Brezsny

"When I was 12 and she was 12, I became boyfriend and girlfriend with Linda Cohen. We even performed at the Second Fret coffeehouse together in like 1959 or '60. I played bongos and snapped fingers. She played guitars. We sang, screamed and read poetry. It was a hoot. She was a marvel."

"I felt very strongly about this store and its place in the neighborhood. I have the means to help, and it's as secure an investment as any nowadays, short of hiding [your money] under your mattress."

"I'm tired of fighting the economy. I'd like to walk out of here a winner."

by Mike Newall

"It's time for someone else to carry the ball."

When news breaks in Philadelphia, we make jokes.

by E. James Beale

Pearce Bunting's latest role at Theatre Exile has him believing.

by A.D. Amorosi

Tue., Feb. 3, 7:30 p.m., $38-$48, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St., 215-898-3900, pennpresents.org.

by Janet Anderson

Through Feb. 15, $35-$42.50, Media Theatre, 104 E. State St., Media, 610-891-0100, mediatheatre.org.

by Mark Cofta

Philadelphia Dance Projects gives experimental choreographers a voice.

by Deni Kasrel

Robin Rice on Visual Art: "Iyare! Splendor and Tension in Benin's Palace Theatre"

by Robin Rice

Jan. 30-April 5, $15, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 128 N. Broad St., 215-972-7600, pafa.org.

by A.D. Amorosi

Chatting — and cursing heavily — with Pearce Bunting.

by A.D. Amorosi

Given the shark-tank clusterfuck that Sundance can sometimes seem, it's fitting that the best movie at this year's festival was a scabrous, foul-mouthed satire about midlevel functionaries scrumming for political power.

The story's ambitions are modest — unfortunately, the same can't be said for the director, who continually intrudes with interminably held shots and music-video interludes.

Send repertory film listings to molly.eichel@citypaper.net.

"So I'm riding with this guy, and we were just talking about music, music, music. At some point I said, 'Have you ever seen Mats Gustafsson? I hear he lives in Stockholm.' And this kid just looks at me and says, 'That's me. I'm Mats Gustafsson.' At that point we were already pals, and we immediately made plans to play together."

Bruce Springsteen, Working on a Dream

by J. Edward Keyes

Dust and Water

by Brian Howard

Lykke Li | Semi Precious Weapons | Edie Sedgwick | Amebix | Stinking Lizaveta/Misstallica | Glenn White

Sugar Town Eighth Anniversary with The Friggs and DJ Julia Factorial, Sat., Jan. 31, 9 p.m., $7, Tritone, 1508 South St., 215-545-0475, tritonebar.com.

by A.D. Amorosi

Sat., Jan. 31, 8 p.m., and Sun., Feb. 1, 3 p.m., $20-$40, Old St. Joseph's, 321 Willings Alley, 215-755-8776, tempestadimare.org.

by Peter Burwasser

Fri., Jan. 30, 9 p.m., $10, with Annuals and What Laura Says, Johnny Brenda's, 1201 N. Frankford Ave., 215-739-9684, johnnybrendas.com.

by M.J. Fine

Thu., Jan. 29, 8 p.m., $10, Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 S. 18th St., 866-468-7619, arsnovaworkshop.com.

by Shaun Brady

"At Union Trust, you're my guest. And for the prices we're charging, I better make you happy."

"Every time you feel tired, do you take a nap or fall asleep wherever you are?" Bittman reasons. "No. So why do we need to eat every time we feel the least bit hungry?"

Picks for Restaurant Week Pt. 2, Feb. 1-6

by Nikki Volpicelli

Buzz Bites Chocolate Energy Chews | The Silhouette Wine Glass | Further Soap | Foodimentary Food Facts on Twitter

Brahaus Schmitz | Ladder 15 | Oyster House

Getting down with Tim and Eric

by A.D. Amorosi

Malcolm Gladwell

by A.D. Amorosi

Women Through the Lens of Time

by Lauren F. Friedman

You Think Fishtown is a Work of Art

by Dianca Potts

New Ancient Structures | Roma Amor | Campaign 2 Sustain